Little Things that Irk You 4Ever

[EDDIE M0NS00N]

I do admittedly say Jap when referring to Japanese items, I think it was due to gaming magazines when I was young, never intended it as a racial thing though. Charles, why not just set up autocorrect from jap to jpn if it's a big issue for people?

I even remember a mag (think it was Super Play) had an import section called Japs Eye, which was quite amusing back then. Still is now tbh

[QualityChimp]

Portuguese traders in Malacca brought the malay word for Japan (Jepang) to Europe and it kind of stuck.

Interestingly, although we refer to the country as Jap?o, we frequently use nip?nico as an adjective.

Interestingly, in Greek, the word "malaka" means "wanker".

[nakamura]

Just got accused of being a racist for asking 3 asian lads for proof of age.

[danholo]

Ah, I was thinking a few weeks ago when this "Jap?-abbreviation conversation would resurface so I could point out the fake moral outrage of the offended party. I seriously don't know whose dignity is being defended. The term is so watered down and is not used in an offensive matter in the gaming community that freaking out about is ridiculous. However, I don't use the term im order to avoid any useless debates.

[Dogg Thang]

Nobody is freaking out.

[teddymeow]

Nobody is freaking out.

Indeed. It's the irks thread. I merely stated that use of the word irked me and that I thought we'd arrived at some sort of gentleman's agreement not to use it.

[nakamura]

Ah, I was thinking a few weeks ago when this "Jap?-abbreviation conversation would resurface so I could point out the fake moral outrage of the offended party. I seriously don't know whose dignity is being defended. The term is so watered down and is not used in an offensive matter in the gaming community that freaking out about is ridiculous. However, I don't use the term im order to avoid any useless debates.

I assume you aren't Japanese?

[dvdx2]

just wondering.....

for those living in Japan, does a Japanese person find the term 'Jap', offensive?

do those who are British, find the word 'Brit' offense?

same for 'Scot' from Scotland etc

[wakka]

The word 'Jap' has a heritage (racism against Japanese-Americans in the earlier part of the 20th century) which the terms 'Brit' and 'Scot' don't.

Think about if you were writing an article on your personal or business blog, and you were talking about visitors to France. You might say 'Statistically Brits prefer the warmer regions in the South' (which would be fine) but you wouldn't then follow that up with 'while Japs tend to favour the cities'. Mostly because you'd sound like a massive racist.

I seriously don't know whose dignity is being defended.

Japanese people's, mate. Lol.

[danholo]

If Japanese are seriously offended, maybe there might be a reason to do so, but so far it's a only a few non-Japanese who assume this.

Also, I don't think it's sufficient to equate an inanimate object with its origin i.e., 'Jap version' (jap being abbreviation) to using the word "Jap" towards people.

[wakka]

You don't have to be black to be offended by use of the n-word matey.

Think it's fairly well established that 'Jap' has a history of use as a racial slur. Google it. I know what you're saying - nobody on here is trying to insult Japanese people by saying they've got a 'Jap N64', but still, it's probably best to avoid it and use JPN instead.

[nakamura]

My wife finds it ignorant rather than offensive. But then she has been to Hiroshima and even now it brought her to tears.
Other Japanese from her view do not like it at all. It's more an American slur but doesn't hurt to educate yourself in these matters.

[danholo]

Ultimately it boils down the context of its use, and that is my main argument. I'm well aware of the historical use of 'Jap' as a racial slur. I also know its use as a contemporary abbreviation. However, if you only use the weight of history on the contemporary language, you are merely languishing in history. In effect, you are 'incriminating' others whose intent is not malicious. Also, the n-word has been watered down by its use in pop-culture to such a degree that it certainly doesn't have the similar meaning and weight as it once did. Afro-American rap has permeated world culture in such ways that its meaning has pretty much changed. In some parts in the US, it is used interchangeably for 'brother', even by non-whites (told by a friend of mine).

[nakamura]

We don't forget our war past so why should others forget theirs?

[wakka]

Ultimately it boils down the context of its use, and that is my main argument. I'm well aware of the historical use of 'Jap' as a racial slur. I also know its use as a contemporary abbreviation. However, if you only use the weight of history on the contemporary language, you are merely languishing in history. In effect, you are 'incriminating' others whose intent is not malicious. Also, the n-word has been watered down by its use in pop-culture to such a degree that it certainly doesn't have the similar meaning and weight as it once did. Afro-American rap has permeated world culture in such ways that its meaning has pretty much changed. In some parts in the US, it is used interchangeably for 'brother', even by non-whites (told by a friend of mine).

Think you've given yourself a tough job defending this one! No one's incriminating anyone, it's more of a 'why don't we just use JPN?'. It's just as convenient and nobody gets offended. Win win.